A Canadian Military Medal for Action at Battle of Pozières 1916

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Military Medal for Action at Battle of Pozières 1916 - Private Frederick W. Mayes, 36th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Battalion, (406950 PTE. F. MAYES. 1-CAN.INF.). Naming is privately engraved. Cleaned, pitted, bruised, near very fine. Accompanied by a CD containing forty pages with copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Discharge Certificate and Military Medal Citation.
Footnote: Frederick William Mayes was born on April 9, 1880 in Folkestone, Kent, England. He signed his Attestation Paper with the 36th Infantry Battalion on May 11, 1915 in Hamilton, Ontario, naming his next-of-kin as Mrs. Julie Mayes (later determined to be his wife) of Hornell, New York, stating that he had six years' previous military service with the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment in England and was coming off two weeks service with the 44th Welland Regiment, which he had previously enlisted with on March 27, 1915, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Marine Fireman (he is also documented in his medical records as a Locomotive Fireman). While training, he was docked one days' pay for being absent without leave on May 21, 1915 at Hamilton and again punished for drunkenness while at Camp Niagara on June 10th. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Hamilton under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915 and sailed June 19, 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel E.C. Ashton with a strength of 39 officers and 1,004 other ranks, including Private Mayes, arriving in England on June 28th. Mayes was to begin a streak of unprofessional conduct and misbehaviour that would follow him throughout the war, a direct contrast to the person that would later be described in his Military Medal citation. While in England, he was Absent Without Leave from August 25 to 26, 1915 and forfeited 2 days' pay, then was AWOL again on September 9, 1915 and sentenced to 10 days' Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 8 days' pay. He was at the Canadian Base Depot when he was drafted for service with the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion in France on September 26, 1915, joining them in the field on October 2nd. He was again AWOL, in addition to losing his rifle on November 16, 1915, from 7:45 PM until he was arrested at 9:30 PM and sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 1. His was sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 on January 13, 1916, "when in active service, breaking arrest, in confinement awaiting trail 22-12-15 to 5-1-16 and 11-16 to 11-2-16", was "tried and convicted by J.G.C.M. of when on active service drunkenness 22-12-15 and sentenced to suffer 90 days F.P. No. 1" by Brigadier General G.B. Hughes. The unexpired portion of his sentence of 90 days was rewritten for Good Conduct in the field. Mayes was wounded in June 1916, when a shell exploded, throwing him up against the side of a dugout, eventually invalided to England, to Moore Barracks General Hospital from August 15 to 23, 1916, with injuries to his nose and hip. However, in a later documented medical report, he states that hospitalization was never required. Mayes was awarded his Military Medal, as cited in the London Gazette 29854 on December 9, 1916, "For his coolness and splendid example to the men of his section during the whole tour in the trenches from 31st, August 1916, especially during the bombardment which took place daily at the inter-section of the trench, with the Pozieres/Bapaume Road. This man's conduct has always been the best when in the trenches or under fire at any time." A.F.W. 3121. Ironically, the next day, he was taken on strength of the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre on December 10, 1916 and admitted to King George Hospital, Stamford St., London S.E., the initial diagnosis as "N.Y.D." (not yet determined). As his hospitalization continued, he was viewed with "Shakes - Lost his voice in the street.", incurring Laryngitis. He had been gassed at Telegraph Hill in April, and while on leave, he fainted in the street and was admitted to hospital. He did regain his voice on the 14th and was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley, Kent on December 18th, remaining there until he was discharged on January 6, 1917, after five weeks hospitalization. He was placed with the Canadian Convalescent Depot on January 9th, later to be struck off strength on transfer to the Western Ontario Regimental Depot at Hastings on March 10, 1917. He was again admitted to hospital, this time to Court Farm Military Hospital at Warlingham from April 12 to June 21, 1917 with "V.D.G." (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea). In a Court of Enquiry held at Warlingham Military Hospital, he was discharged for illegally absenting himself on May 28, 1917. He ceased to be attached to the 2nd CCD on return to the Western Ontario Regimental Depot at Hastings on June 22nd. He was later admitted to No. 2 Canadian General Hospital at Bramshott from July 17 to October 20, 1917 but it is not clear as to why. In November 1917, a District Court Martial was convened and Mayes was charged with three violations: deserting His Majesty's Service from May 28 to July 7, 1917, for being AWOL from August 18 to 24, 1917, and for being AWOL from August 27 to September 24, 1917. He was found guilty of all three violations and was "sentenced to undergo imprisonment for one year with HARD LABOUR and to FORFEIT Military Medal, 21.11.17. Sentenced confirmed 23.11.17. In arrest 11.9.17. Forfeits 57 days' pay by R.W.", on November 21, 1917, with a total forfeiture of 492 pays' pay. It was later commuted to one week of detention only. One week later he ceased to be attached to the 2nd CCD on proceeding to Bramshott Detention Barracks at Wandsworth on November 28th. In the new year, he ceased to be shown in detention, struck off strength and posted to the 4th Reserve Battalion, Category "A" at Bramshott on January 18, 1918. He was taken on strength by the 4th but was shown as in detention ay Wandsworth with effect from January 18th. He was to return to the French theatre a second time, as he was struck off strength of the 4th Reserve Battalion on having proceeded overseas with the 1st Battalion on March 16, 1918. As he proceeded overseas with the 1st Battalion, the balance of his sentence of detention was remitted and arrived in Boulogne on March 24th. However, his imperfect behaviour brought him before the authorities once again, as he was sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment No. 2, "for when on active service absent without leave" from March 18 to 21, 1918 and forfeited 4 days' pay. He joined the 1st Battalion in the field on April 9th. He continued to run afoul of the Army hierarchy, while with the 1st Battalion, he was sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being AWOL from 7:00 AM April 11 to 3:30 PM April 12 and forfeited 2 days' pay on May 2, 1918. In addition, a stoppage was place on his pay, until the Army could determine value of equipment missing that was assigned to Mayes, which included rifle, bayonet, scabbard, haversack, pack, shoulder straps, water bottle, mess tin, waist belt, ammunition pouch, helmet, great coat, among other items (the value later assessed at ten pounds, eight shillings and one pence). He was again AWOL, this time from Tattoo at Mingovan on June 3 to 4 for 21 hours, sentenced to Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 2 days' pay and sent to the First Division Field Punishment Station to undergo his sentence of 90 days on July 20, 1918. His services were need in the field, his sentenced shortened, when he returned to the 1st Battalion and suffered a gun shot wound (shrapnel) to his right knee on August 10, 1918. He was admitted to No. 1 Australian General Hospital at Rouen, transferred to No. 74 General Hospital at Trouville on the 15th and transferred again, to No. 13 Convalescent Depot at Trouville on the 21st. He was discharged to reinforcements at Etaples on the 28th, one day after he was sentenced to 4 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 2 days' pay on August 27, 1918 for three violations: AWOL from Tattoo from August 23 to 25 until he was apprehended by the Military Police, being in a café during prohibited hours and being in town without a pass. He couldn't stay out of trouble, as he was again declared AWOL from August 29 to September 10, 1918, a total of 12 days and sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeiting 13 days' pay on October 3, 1918. He rejoined his unit on October 11th but only briefly, as his habitual habit of going AWOL took place again, from December 16, 1918 to January 11, 1919, a total of 27 days. The Army had had enough, as he was declared to be illegally absent by a Court of Enquiry and struck off strength as a Deserter on January 11, 1919. Five weeks after that disgrace, he was admitted on February 13, 1919 to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, his knee causing him obvious problems. He was invalided and transferred to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital at Orpington on the 17th, then transferred to No. 4 London General Hospital, Denmark Hill for his "right knee and amnesia" on March 29th. Although he was discharged on April 22nd, he was re-admitted to hospital, this time to the Military Hospital at Ripon from May 3 to 17, 1919, then transferred to "S" Wing on May 17th, to "O" Wing on July 7th until August 11th, when he was struck off strength to the Western Ontario Regimental Depot on proceeding to detention at Wandsworth on August 14th. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated August 19, 1919 at Wardsworth, it documents the condition of his knee: "He walks with a perceptible limp and can walk 2 miles before he has to rest. Complains of stiff
ess in the knee joint. Pain sharp piercing in character originating internal condyle - radiating across knee joint. Weakness of knee after walking. On Aug. 1, 1918. Wounded in right knee with shrapnel consequently invalided to England and the present disability resulting." It was estimated that in eight months, he would recover, but that he could not resume his former occupation as a Fireman, "due to (the) loss of function of (his) right knee." Following his discharge from hospital, he was taken on strength at CDD Buxton on September 12, 1919 but just couldn't behave himself, as he was awarded 28 days Detention on October 20, 1919, for being AWOL from September 8 to 9 in England, breaking arrest and remaining absent from October 17 to 19, before he returned to Canada on October 22 aboard the S.S. Royal George. He was taken on strength at No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario and posted to the Casualty Company on November 5th. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated November 6, 1919 at London, it documents his two battle incurred injuries. First, the shell explosion while in France in June 1916, where he suffered a broken nose, his condition stated as "Nose depressed in centre and bridge considerably widened, causing deformity", with his disability listed as "permanent". The second, the shrapnel wound in France to his right knee on August 10, 1918 while in France, noting the swelling to his right knee, making it noticeably larger than his left knee, with "Movements of knee joint normal tho' painful on extension of flexion", with one to two months rehabilitation estimated. It also describes in detail his two injuries: "On June 13th 1916 was blown by shell explosion up against the side of (a) dugout, and nose was badly fractured. Was not admitted to hospital. On Aug. 11th 1918 was wounded in right knee by shrapnel. Operated on at Rouen to remove foreign body about 14-8-18. rejoined Unit about Sept. 15th, 18. On Dec. 18th, 18 went sick with knee paining and swollen. Invalided to England Feb. 16, 19. Invalided to Canada Oct. 20th. 1919.", as well as two other hospitalizations: "Was gassed at Telegraph Hill in April, whilst on leave in 1916, fainted in street and was admitted to hospital for 5 weeks. Good recovery. Had bronchitis in June 1915, in hospital 8 days. Good recovery." He is documented as "to be discharged in Canada for Misconduct Under KR&O 392 Sec. XI" but his Discharge Certificate states that he was discharged upon demobilization as "Medically unfit for general service" at No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario on November 8th. He stated that his proposed residence after discharge was Hornell, New York, his address later changed to Toronto, Ontario. In addition to his Military Medal, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star and the British War Medal, and was entitled to wear a War Service Badge, Class "A". However, his conduct during the Great War necessitated that he return his original Military Medal, 1914-15 Star and British War Medal, as requested by the government, and were so received by them on May 26, 1941. The medal offered here, is very likely one that Mayes had engraved privately afterwards for wear.

George V (WILLIAM RYDER CARTER.). Naming is officially impressed. Edge nicks, contact marks, very fine.
Footnote: William Ryder Carter was a Postman in Malton and was certified by the Civil Service Commissioners as qualified for appointment, the announcement appearing in the London Gazette 26762 of Tuesday, July 28, 1896, page 4293.

Military Medal, George V, uncrowned head (1257512 Cpl A.W. SILLETT. 9/SGE;BY;CAN:G.A.); British War Medal (1257512 SJT. A.W. SILLETT. C.G.A.); Victory Medal (1257512 SJT. A.W. SILLETT. C.G.A.); and Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (SGT. (COOK) A.W. SILLETT R.C.A.). Naming is impressed. Court-mounted, edge nicks, light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by copies of his Pre-War/CEF/Post War Militia records, including Index Cards, Attestation Papers, Service Records, Medical Records, Discharge Certificates, along with the Supplement to the London Gazette 30940, page 11840 (dated October 7, 1918, naming him as a recipient of the Military Medal), a printed photograph of The 1907 Draft of Men of the Royal Garrison Artillery (taken in Liverpool, England before sailing for Halifax on February 21, 1907) and assorted research papers.

Footnote: Alfred William Sillett was born on April 17, 1886 in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland, the son of Alfred and Helena Sillett of Queenstown, Ireland. He enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery on October 28, 1904, under the alias of Alfred Armstrong and was to serve for two years and four months before being discharged on February 21, 1907, with a view to enlisting with the Canadian Garrison Artillery, regimental number 5296. Sillett (AKA Armstrong) was part of the draft of men of the Royal Garrison Artillery, which sailed from Liverpool, England to Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 21, 1907. He signed his Attestation Paper as Alfred William Armstrong (Sillett's alias) with the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, at Plymouth, England, on February 22, 1907, at the age of 20, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Alfred "Armstrong", stating that he had two years and 117 days previous service with the Royal Garrison Artillery and had been discharged with a view to enlistment into the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Labourer, joining No. 2 Company, RCGA. He was promoted to Corporal in May 1909 and re-engaged for additional service on February 18, 1910. Sillett married Mary Payne in Halifax on October 25, 1910, still claiming to be Armstrong, and was to later have one child, Alfred Samuel Edgar Sillett. He successfully completed courses in Gun Laying (1910) and 1st Class Gunner (1913-14). However, he was declared Absent Without Leave on January 11, 1911 at Halifax and by February 2nd, had been struck off by a Court of Enquiry, forfeiting his rank and previous service. He did eventually return from desertion on August 22, 1911 but his former service was not restored to him until September 1914. He immediately re-engaged at Sandwich Battery Headquarters at Halifax, with his rank being restored to him in May 1916. Sillett's alias of Armstrong was finally rectified in his records in January 1915, in a sworn statement signed by him and notarized by a Justice of the Peace: "I Alfred Sillett do solemnly and sincerely declare that I was enlisted on the 22nd February 1907, under the name Alfred Armstrong, which name I now declare to be incorrect. The name of Alfred Sillett, contained in the accompanying certificate of marriage, I now declare to be my true name, and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously, believing the same to be true, by the virtue of the provisions of an Act made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of King William the Fourth. Chap. 62, entitled "The Statuatory Declarations Act, 1835."" Sillett declared himself available for war service in the Great War, signing his CEF Attestation Paper with No. 8 Overseas Siege Battery, Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, regimental number 1257512, in Halifax, on July 18, 1916, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mary Sillett, stating that he had two years and six months previous service with the Royal Garrison Artillery and nine years with the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, that he was married and that his trade was that of Soldier. In the summer of 1916, authority was granted for the RCGA at Halifax and Esquimalt, British Columbia, to form a battery for overseas participation. Sillett was appointed Acting Bombardier and left for England on September 26, 1916, when he embarked Halifax for Liverpool, England, arriving on October 6th. Three months later, the No. 8 Siege Battery was re-designated No. 9 Canadian Siege Battery in January 1917. Six months after arriving in England, he proceeded to the French theatre on March 21, 1917, landing in France the following day and was confirmed in the rank of Bombardier. Sillett was in France for just two months, after which he was transferred to England and posted to the Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot at Shorncliffe in May for the next five months, thus missing the action with No. 9 Siege Battery at the Battle of Hill 70 in August. While at the Depot, he was appointed to Acting Corporal on July 3rd and promoted to Corporal on October 18th, after which he returned to Boulogne, France, where he reverted to the rank of Bombardier upon his arrival as a reinforcement, rejoining his unit on October 31st. He officially re-engaged for service on November 17th and was to remain with No. 9 Canadian Siege Battery RCGA until the end of the war. He saw a promotion to Sergeant on June 11, 1918. In the rank of Corporal, A.W. Sillett, Canadian Garrison Artillery was awarded the Military Medal, as mentioned in the London Gazette 30940, page 11840, on October 7, 1918. He returned to England on April 2, 1919 and was placed at the Canadian Concentration Camp, Kinmel Park, before embarking from Southampton, England on May 3rd aboard the H.M.T. Mauretania, arriving in Halifax on May 9th. Sillett was discharged upon demobilization on June 20, 1919 at Military District No. 6 in Halifax, credited with having served in Canada, Great Britain, France and Belgium, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A" and earning him his WWI Pair. Intending to continue his career in the RCGA, three days previous, he had signed his Permanent Force of Canada Attestation Paper as a Corporal on June 17, 1919 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, regimental number 4092, stating that he had two years and 117 days previous service with the RGA and twelve years and three months with the RCGA, that he was married and that his trade was that of Soldier. He was officially re-engaged on June 20th. He successfully completed four additional courses in Gun Laying (1922, 1923, 1924, 1925). Sillett was appointed Sergeant (Master Cook) on November 1, 1923, with superior officers noting that he was "A very good cook and an excellent caterer for the men. A very good allround Artilleryman and a good clerk." and "A very clean hard working N.C.O., very willing and had good initiative." Sillett was awarded his Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1926 by General Order No. 63. He was discharged to pension on December 24, 1933 at Halifax, his character noted as "Exemplary". He died on June 12, 1963 in Halifax, at the age of 77.

A 1914 First War Canadian Grouping - 1914-15 Star (42579 GNR: J. ROPER. CAN: FD: ART:); British War and Victory Medals (42579 CPL. J. ROPER. C.F.A.). Naming is officially impressed. Crisp detail, original ribbons, edge wear on BWM, mounted to suspension with swing bar pinback, very fine. Accompanied by his Canadian Pay Book for Use on Active Service; his Permanent Pass from Staff Division, Woodcote Park (stamped and dated April 29, 1917); a Canadian Field Artillery Cap Badge (bronze, 51.3 mm x 63.7 mm); a 9th Battalion Canadian Field Artillery Shoulder Title (bronze, 36.2 mm x 44.8 mm); two Artillery Collar Tabs (bronze, 18 mm x 30.5 mm each); a Battalion Patch (red chevron on a navy blue wool field, 44 mm x 71 mm); an Armband inscribed "1914" (black numbering on a red field, placed upon a full length brown wool armband); his CEF For Service At The Front Badge (bronze and enamels, numbered "159686", 22.7 mm); his For King and Empire, Services Rendered War Badge (silver, numbered "C63807", 32.7 mm) with Certificate; his British Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth (dated November 24, 1938); a British Empire Service League Canadian Legion Bullion Insignia (73 mm x 103 mm); a British Empire Service League Canadian Legion Beret; his Loyal Orange Lodge #2438, Toronto, Masonic Medal (silver and bronze gilt, engraved "Presented to JOHN ROPER term 1929" and maker marked "DOM.REG.CO." on the reverse, 64 mm x 130 mm, in leather case of issue); seven assorted pins; a 1910 Ten Cent Coin; a Letter From the Department of National Defence (dated June 30, 1932); a Pension Tribunal Report (dated October 14, 1932); and two Death Notices. Footnote: John Roper was born on January 8, 1886 in London, England. He signed his Attestation Paper on September 22, 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, stating that he had four years previous service with the 9th Battalion C.F.G., that he was married and that his trade was that of Iron Moulder. Roper served in the French theatre, returning to Canada via Halifax in January 1919 and was discharged from active service upon demobilization on February 10, 1919. He later developed pulmonary tuberculosis with a lung abscess and was determined at Pension Tribunal in 1932 that it was not attributable to his Military Service, even though he claimed that while serving in France for nineteen months with the Canadian Field Artillery, he suffered a haemorrhage in 1915 but could not remember the name of the Medical Officer he was seen by. Roper had been treated for Myalgia in January 1916, accidental injury to his ankle in August 1916, in addition to appendicitis and sciatica but was never hospitalized for any such abnormality with his lungs, nor was there anything recorded in his Medical Records. There was existing documentation that there was a "previous history of haemorrage from the throat in 1907, and further trouble with the throat in 1922 it would seem more likely that the bleeding was from some part other than his lungs", with the Tribune denying his request for compensation. It was possibly due to his pre-war and post-war employment as an Iron Moulder. Roper passed away on November 26, 1970 at St. Catharines, Ontario, a widower of Alice Louise Roper.

A First War Canadian Pair to the Pioneer Batt; DOW 1917 - War and Victory Medal (138486 PTE. M. MAC. CALLUM. CAN. PNR. BN.) Naming is impressed, near extremely fine. Footnote: Malcolm MacCallum was born on 24th December 1882 in Renfrewshire, Scotland and he joined the 75th Bn CEF on 20th August 1915; Son of Archibald and Elizabeth MacCallum of 761 Lansdowne Avenue, Toronto; husband of Beatrice MacCallum of 51 Dennison Avenue, Toronto. McCallum was wounded on October 28th, and died of his wounds on November 9, 1917 at Casualty Clearing Station No. 44.